Blackjack & Poker
Platform: TI-99/4A
Region: USA
Media: Cartridge
Controller: Keyboard
Genre: Card Game - Blackjack - Poker
Gametype: Licensed
Release Year: 1981
Developer: Milton Bradley Co.
Publisher: Texas Instruments
Players: 1 thru 4 VS
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Card games and computers seem to go hand-in-hand. TI's offering, "Blackjack & Poker," allows you to play Blackjack or Stud Poker against the computer, or with up to three other players. The Blackjack game has most of the features of real Blackjack, except for the "split" option. The Stud Poker game pits you against three other players (human, computer or both), and follows the rules for 5-Card Stud. Will you break the bank, or lose your shirt? Only Lady Luck knows for sure!

Trivia:

This game was originally scheduled to be released in 1979 as part of Milton Bradley's Gamevision series under the title Card Sharp. However, for unknown reasons the game was never put out by MB during that time. Instead, the game was later renamed Blackjack & Poker and released through TI in 1981.  

Don't let the copyright on the title screen fool you! Even though the screen says (C) 1980 Texas Instruments, it is actually a 1979 Milton Bradley game which was put out through TI's lines. One speculation on the copyright change is that a bug was found in the program which MB (in 1979) was not able to figure out, but TI was later (in 1980) able to solve. Therefore, TI put their name on the copyright since MB most likely had given up on the program and allowed TI to rebrand the game.

A game called Las Vegas Poker & Blackjack was released for the Mattel Intellivision in 1980, a year before Blackjack & Poker hit the market. 


http://www.mobygames.com/game/ti-994a/blackjack-poker
